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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, N ov em be r 7, 20 19 | 6 Grade 9 InformatIon evenInG november 13th - 6:30pm open house november 16th - 10am-2pm enriched university preparatory school for girls in grades 5-12. Brilliant Minds • Compassionate Hearts • Inspirational Leaders 905.891.1890 | www.hnmcs.ca | admissions@hnmcs.ca Ontario is a hub for hu- man trafficking and the traffickers are becoming very familiar with Halton. These were some of the messages that came out of a human trafficking educa- tion seminar, which was held at Halton police head- quarters on Wednesday, Oct. 16. The event was presented by Crime Stoppers of Hal- ton and the registered char- ity Courage for Freedom, and began with a troubling reality check from Halton police Supt. Kevin Maher. Maher noted that in the last 12 months, 72 separate hu- man trafficking related charges have been laid in Halton and 12 women have been rescued as a result. "I feel that this speaks to the depth of the problem and the tragic impact, the fact that 12 young womenfact that 12 young womenf have suffered greatly and have been significantly traumatized here in Hal- ton," said Maher. "These are 12 women who are sisters, daughters and in some cases even mothers." Those present heard from two members of thefrom two members of thef Halton police human traf- ficking unit.ficking unit.f Det. Const. Lukasz Walczykiewicz and Det.Walczykiewicz and Det.W Const. Julie Powers said Halton is an attractive place for human traffick- ers, specifically those in- volved the sex trade, be- cause multiple highways pass through Halton and there are many hotels and motels along these high- ways for them to operate out of. Walczykiewicz saidWalczykiewicz saidW there is also a higher in- come level in Halton, which means the traffickers can charge more for their vic- tim's services. Powers described hu- man trafficking as modern day slavery, noting the rela- tionship between the traf- ficker and the victim is oneficker and the victim is onef of pure exploitation. Victims, she said, areVictims, she said, areV manipulated into a life of forced prostitution andforced prostitution andf controlled with threats and often violence. The officers said there are four stages in the re- cruitment of a person by traffickers: Luring, groom- ing, coercion and exploita- tion. Walczykiewicz saidWalczykiewicz saidW there is no equation for how long each stage takes, noting some victims he has dealt with went through these stages in months while others took just days. He said luring is when a trafficker assesses, tests, collects information on a potential victim and works to make them feel special. Previously, Walczy- kiewicz said, the traffick- ers would attend schools, shelters, malls or parties to find vulnerable people.find vulnerable people.f He says now social me- dia, and even dating sites, play a much larger role. Grooming follows. "These traffickers, what they are selling is the dream of each individual, each victim. They collect info, find out what their vulnerabilities are, what their goals in life are," said Walczykiewicz.Walczykiewicz.W "They're selling the dream, the condo, a lavish lifestyle, the vacationing, which at the end of the day never comes to be. The only person who benefits from the situation is the traffick- er." In the coercion stage, Walczykiewicz said, theWalczykiewicz said, theW trafficker may begin things like desensitizing the vic- tim to sex acts and then re- warding them afterward. He said the trafficker may suddenly stop shower- ing the victim with atten- tion, at which point the vic- tim tries to get back in his good graces by doing what- ever he says. The officer said exploi- tation and potentially con- finement, isolation, abusefinement, isolation, abusef and threats follow. Powers said many vic- tims are actually branded with the traffickers' name or nickname. Walczykiewicz alsoWalczykiewicz alsoW pointed out there is no standard age, background or even gender for a human trafficker. "I have personally charged girls with human trafficking where they traf- ficked another female," heficked another female," hef said. "It could be anybody." In a presentation aimed at helping hotel employees NEWS HUMAN TRAFFICKERS LIKE HALTON'S HOTELS AND HIGHER INCOME DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com THE ISSUE: HOW DO YOUNG WOMEN GET LURED INTO BEING A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING LOCAL IMPACT: HIGHER INCOME LEVELS MAKE HALTON AN INVITING LOCATION FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING HALTON POLICE SAY TREND EMERGING WHERE HUMAN TRAFFICKERS MAKE USE OF AIRBNBS See - page 7 Custom made Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinetry | Closet Systems Entertainment Units | Basement Renovations | Full Renos and More! Create Your Dream Look ♦ 100% Canadian Made Cabinetry ♦Quality Craftsmanship ♦ 20+ Years Experience ♦ Visit our 6000 sqft Design Centre Units 2-3 333 Wyecroft Rd, Oakville T 905.844.3332 F 905.844.3334 www.aromakitchens.ca | info@aromakitchens.ca FREE INSTALLATION Offer Expires December 31, 2019 Some restrictions apply. Please visit showroom for details